Colin Maximin
A Nigerian woman’s family is speaking out after she died while aboard an international flight from the West African country to the United States.
The woman whose family is requesting anonymity, died on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Abuja to Washington under unclear circumstances the family said.
The family took to social media to seek public assistance in ascertaining her death. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), one of the dead woman’s daughters appealed to fellow passengers who travelled on the same flight to come forward with information about events leading to her mother’s death.
According to her, the family have repeatedly contacted Ethiopian Airlines for clarification but had received no satisfactory explanation. She maintained that her mother was not ill before embarking on the journey.
The distraught daughter urged Nigerians to continue sharing the video to draw the attention of relevant authorities and possible eyewitnesses.
She said: “This woman boarded Ethiopian Airlines on January 19, 2026, from Abuja to Washington DC but died inside the plane. The family have contacted the airline to know the circumstances surrounding her death because she was not sick, but the airline has refused to speak with us.
“We are using this opportunity to call on anyone who travelled on the same aircraft, ET 950, to please get in touch with us through the email address I will drop here.”
She further alleged that even airline officials who reportedly administered first aid to the deceased had been warned not to speak with the family or anyone about the incident.
“Please inbox us via this email if you have any information regarding our mum’s death,” she added.
The appeal has since attracted widespread attention online, with many Nigerians demanding transparency and accountability from both the airline and relevant aviation authorities.
A spokesman from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the authority was aware of the incident and was engaging both the family and the airline.
He said: “The NCAA is aware of this case. We are in touch with the family of the deceased as well as the airline. Ethiopian Airlines has submitted their report, and we are waiting for some reports from the family.
“We speak with the family almost daily, including today, and we are committed to ensuring that full closure is achieved.”